Campaign To Have Homeless Man Carry Olympic Torch

[chamber-music]

Thousands of fans join online campaign to get 'Gordon the Supertramp' to carry Olympic torch


Thousands of fans have joined an online campaign to get a elderly tramp to carry the Olympic torch.

Tramp Gordon Roberts, who is well known in Bournemouth for always knowing the correct time despite never wearing a watch, has got the support of 4,500 people who plan to nominate him as their 'inspirational member of the community'.


Eccentric Gordon, 82, has spent more than 20 years wandering the streets of his Dorset home town sporting a trademark white beard, football scarf and Parka jacket.

His supporters have launched a Facebook group dedicated to making him the town's official Olympic torch bearer.

They will now nominate Gordon to the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) as a worthy candidate for the job.

The campaign is the brainchild of cousins Jade Reynolds, 21, and Looby Ratcliffe, 20, both from Poole.

Jade said: 'Gordon is just the nicest, most genuine man you could ever hope to meet.

'He's a great person - he's always got a happy word to say and everyone loves seeing him.

'So when we saw an advert for local heroes to carry the Olympic torch, he was the first person who came to mind.

'We thought we would start the Facebook group to campaign for it and just see how it went.

'We can't believe the reaction, it's been absolutely amazing.'

Looby, a sales assistant, said: 'People like us have grown up with him - he's a big part of the community and always stops to chat to people.

'And he's got a real talent as well'

'A lot of people have been saying they'd rather have someone nice and genuine representing Bournemouth than a snobby person from the town hall in a suit.

'We'd love to see a local hero carrying the Olympic torch and doing us proud.'


And Gordon, who lives in a house, said he would be keen to do the job, dependant on the weather.

He said: 'I'd do it but what if it rains? It would be very good fun, very good fun.

'I like sports; I go to watch Bournemouth and the speedway.'

Popular Gordon already has 20 Facebook groups dedicated to him, ranging from 'I love Gordon the Tramp' to 'What's the time, Gordon?'

He is the star of dozens of YouTube videos showing off his time-telling skills and is so popular that local football club, AFC Bournemouth, let him in for free for matches.

One fan, Matthew Lofthouse, wrote on the Facebook page: 'He is the most famous person from Bournemouth, a YouTube legend.

'At least we know he won't be late.'

I say let homeless Gandalf carry the olympic torch

 

[enterthemadness]

...yay for homeless people *skimmed article* Yay.

 

[bullets]

I think it would be a good reflection of the state of America to send a homeless man with the torch.

 

[Manic]

I think it would be a good reflection of the state of America to send a homeless man with the torch.

But... England?

 

[bullets]

Whoops , lol. Guess I overlooked that minor detail.

for the record I gave homeless guy a dollar at a red light today. I think some of my comment stemmed from thinking about that.



Here an interview
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Turns out he's not homeless? Just Harmless

 

[Victarion]

They're using him to feel good. After they've filled their moralistic tummies, they'll treat him like a leper again. Being thrown back into the sorry state he has risen from, he may well commit suicide. I suspect this is a part of their plan for eliminating the section of society that doesn't contribute to society.

 

[Sakuraba]

He'll probably end up trading the torch for a 12-pack.

 

[Timstuff]

I hear they've got a special torch designed for him.

 

[Spider-Who?]

Here's an idea...how about they take all of that energy and put to work for something that ACTUALLY matters for the homeless. You know, like food, water, shelter, work, etc. This feels like little more than an easy "lets pat each other on the back" campaign.